Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced Mehedi Hasan Miraz as Bangladesh's vice-captain for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy yesterday evening, mere hours before the squad's scheduled departure for the UAE, continuing the custom of frivolity when it comes to national team's vice-captaincy.

There are many examples of the slapdash nature of decision making when it comes to naming a vice-captain for the Tigers. One such instance happened in July 2023, during Bangladesh's home series against Afghanistan, when then skipper Tamim Iqbal's injury forced the BCB to appoint Liton Das as vice-captain just a day before the first ODI.

Later when Tamim announced his shock retirement after the first match, Liton stepped up and captained the team in the second and third ODI.

The BCB had done better in this regard ahead of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 and last year's ICC T20 World Cup. Current three-format captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was named Shakib Al Hasan's deputy in the former and Taskin Ahmed was Shanto's deputy in the latter way in advance.

But this time, before a major tournament like the Champions Trophy, the BCB waited till the very end to disclose who will be Shanto's second-in-command, reverting to older ways.

"Miraz was the designated second man for us. One also has to understand that there really was no one else we could have given it to," a BCB official claimed.

One could argue that vice-captaincy or its late announcement holds little significance, but on-field leadership is of particular importance for any team and especially for a side like Bangladesh which has to maximise its resources to the fullest if it hopes to do well in the tournament.

Miraz had recently captained the Test and ODI side in the West Indies. In that series, he was able to articulate his plans to the rest with Liton Das noticeably helping him manage the field from behind the stumps.

Miraz has played 103 ODIs for the Tigers and his batting has become increasingly important for the side in recent years while his contributions with the ball has always been crucial.

The Tigers are also without ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is still serving a bowling suspension and was not picked for the Champions Trophy squad, which makes Miraz's all-round contributions even more important.

As captain, Miraz made history in the West Indies tour, leading Bangladesh to their first Test win in Caribbean soil since 2009. However, Miraz got plenty of help from Liton, who could be heard on the stump mic suggesting field changes and who should come to bowl.

Liton's captaincy instincts were on full display in the T20I series in the West Indies, which the Tigers swept 3-0. Had Liton not lost his place in the Champions Trophy squad for his woefully awful form, he would have likely been named vice-captain, not Miraz.

However, now the added responsibility of aiding Shanto in leadership alongside the weight of performing with both bat and ball has been thrust upon the shoulders of Miraz.

This tournament could prove to be acid test for Miraz's future as a leader as well as if he can handle the added leadership responsibilities and perform as an all-rounder, he is likely to be earmarked for a promotion to permanent captaincy when the position opens up.